Ask A Spider For Advice?

WOYWW #96

Wednesday once again and it is time to take a peek at what is on my workdesk.  WOYWW hostess, Julia, always has something fun and interesting to peek at with many other creative spaces to inspire, so check it out here.

My workdesk is really the same as it usually is, however, it is now relocated back upstairs.  After last weeks encounter with the spider I was finding it difficult to feel comfortable downstairs.  I must admit though, after I slayed the 8-legged fiend, I felt rather guilty.  I read in a housekeeping book the very next day that one should not kill spiders, but rather capture them under a cup, slip a piece of sturdy paper underneath, then take them outdoors and release them, only after asking them for advice just prior to letting them go.  Has anyone ever heard of asking a spider for advice?  Well, from now on I will try to refrain from harming them, but I will leave the capture up to my husband.

I have had many orders for baby cards since I posted my last creations, so that is what I have been busy working on.  Now orders for Mother's Day cards are pouring in so I will need to get busy on those very soon. 

I have finished up the layouts for my class.  I will begin teaching this layout starting tonight.  I think it is so cute.  Maybe it is my niece who makes it so cute?

And another fun find.  I have been on such a roll lately with finding useful items for super cheap (my favorite).  I purchased this vintage kitchen cart and after scrubbing it for a couple of hours I placed it in my scraproom to use as my die cutting station.  It clears a little more room off my workdesk.

That is all I have to show for now.  Thanks for visiting!



Messy Messy

WOYWW #94

Another delightful Wednesday to share with you what is on my workdesk and a chance to peek at what is on everyone else's workdesk.  Skip over to Julia's blog to see more!

I  feel like recently I have abandoned my organizing nature as my desk hasn't had a proper cleaning for weeks now.  Things are just piling on top of more things until I have time to sort through it all.  When I do find extra time I am using it to enjoy these beautiful spring days and tend to my plants that are showing hints of green and enjoy having my windows open and all the birds singing.

So anyway, my desk this week has a new Jillibean Soup 6"x6" paper pad which I can't wait to cut into, a little strategic placement of 2 baby cards I made for the H2H challenge and what appears to be a somewhat organized mess, until.......

you see the other side.  It is just heaped with stuff, yikes!



And I just have to share a recent purchase that I am tickled pink about.  A sugar and creamer that matches my Old British Castles dinnerware.  I have been on the prowl for additional pieces for my set, but the price always is an obstacle.  I snagged these for $8.99.  The creamer has a small chip along the lip, but that doesn't bother me at all.  Over all they are in excellent condition.

Thanks for stopping by and have a joyful WOYWW!

Jackpot!

WOYWW? (What's on your workdesk Wednesday?)

My desk is a disaster this week.  My previous post shows the project that is responsible for this mess, but well worth it. 

I found a new organizer for my Copics.  It will work great just so long as I don't buy anymore Copics or I find another cheese box.

I went antiquing on Sunday and I was looking for wood thread spools all day without much luck.  At the last shop I noticed a large oatmeal canister with wood spools written on it.  It was FULL of wooden spools, jackpot!  I only had to pay $5.  So happy to find them.  I have used several already for baker's twine and the rest are in these glass containers for the time being.

Do you like to snoop at others' workdesks?  Well pop on over to see Julia and so many wonderful workdesks.

~Shari

Sweetness

WOYWW #89

Another week, another Wednesday, and you know what that means...sneaky peeky!  To look at many glorious workspaces pop over to Julia's blog, Stamping-Ground, to see what it's all about.

My desk is rather uneventful this week.  A few little card projects.

This sweet little heart shaped embellishment box was so cute I couldn't pass it up.  Too bad it arrived a bit late to use with this year's Valentines but I will use them eventually.

And last is a custom order card I made for a client that wanted a birthday card for her granddaughter.  I used the Sweetness line from Pink Paislee.  LOVE this paper!

Thanks for visiting!

WOYWW (Thursday Edition)

I could not find my desk in order to take a photo for WOYWW.  (I may be exaggerating a tad bit.)  My desk is really a mess though, not my preferred working environment.  I have been working on my H2H challenge card this week and nothing was working for me in the "kissing" department.  ("kissing" is in reference to a stamping technique.)  My next post will showcase my finished project.

Julia, over at Stamping-Ground is the WOYWW hostess and you can pop over there to take a gander at many creative workdesks.

Nut CASE'd

I have a folder within my pictures folder on my computer entitled "Projects To Do".  This is where I save photos of projects I have found online that I would like to CASE (copy and share w/everyone).  So this week I have been trying to get some of these projects completed and this is what is on my workdesk. 

And remember, there are so many workdesks out there in blogland that want to be peeked at.  To find out more visit the home of WOYWW at Julia's blog here.

This card was CASE'd from MWooderson's Etsy shop.  Click here to see her original artwork.  I happened to have this same paper line on hand (Restoration from Crate Paper)so decided to make my own.  I used CTMH Smoothie ink to stamp the mat stack 3 pattern from Papertrey Ink and I used ledger paper behind it.  I also used CTMH dimensional elements "Hearts".  I still need to add the sentiment to it.

 This next project was too adorable for me to pass up making so I made my own set for my 1 year old nephew, William.

The tutorial for this finger puppet gift set can be found here on Papertrey Ink's blog by Nichole Heady.  She is amazing! 

I just followed the tutorial from start to finsih and the little gift set turned out too cute.

Happy WOYWW!
~Shari 

Inspired

It is Wednesday once again and you know what that means...WOYWW?  If you enjoy looking at creative spaces from all over click here to visit Julia's blog and find out more about WOYWW. 

Now on to my workdesk.  I am posting the scrapbook layout I am teaching this month using CTMH "Wings" paper from the Inspirations brochure.

Today the postman made my day by delivering my new Papertrey Ink dies and stamps that were released on Jan. 15th. I am so glad Kansas is close to Ohio. :)





Thanks for stopping by to peek and I am going to try to peek at all the workdesks this week as well.
~Shari

"Buzzy" as a Bee and WOYWW

I am so happy to get back into my usual routine again.  I hope every one's holidays were wonderful.  We had a great Christmas Eve, but Christmas Day was a bit dreadful as we all woke up with the stomach flu and have since managed to catch a terrible cold with lots of coughs and sniffles.  We are all on the mend now, but this cough really is sticking with us.

For WOYWW this week, I am posting pictures of my entire work area since I have been MIA for nearly 2 months.  It is proof that I have been very busy and deep in creative thought.

Below is my class table that I have claimed for personal use.

Next you will see my desk which is so cluttered with new CTMH products and Christmas gifts.  I was thrilled to receive a generous gift card to Papertrey Ink and so I purchased a lot of dies for my cuttlebug.

Last I am posting a couple projects that I have completed.  First is a hanging with monogram.  I used Queen Bee paper from Pink Paislee, thus the title of my post.  The yellows and blacks are elegant and shabby and fit into my sitting room decor perfectly.

Next I made a quick card using the new CTMH Wings paper and some wrinkle ribbon.  I will be teaching my students how to make this card tonight as my workshop order still has not shipped.





So that is it.  Be sure to drop by Julia's blog here to check out more crafty, creative work desks.

~Shari

Am I the only one that works around here?

WOYWW #75


A few experiments are on my workdesk today.  I have been trying to create an antique cracked paint effect on clear cards, with some success, though not quite what I want yet.  I am also working on a "patchwork" bird using 1" squares of paper on chipboard, but of course I didn't have a spare piece of chipboard large enough to accommodate the bird, so I traced it onto two separate pieces hoping that I can adhere it to cardstock, then cover it with my paper and ideally, it will look as one solid piece.  Of course things always work out perfectly when one is only thinking about it, but when work actually begins, nothing goes as planned.

I am anxious to get to work with the new Basic Grey paper called Curio.  I pre-ordered it and it arrived last week, but I have been busy with other projects so here it sits, still in it's packaging, waiting patiently for me to create something.  It is gorgeous paper by the way.

Behind me is my class table, which is covered with random projects that need to be finished.  I worked last night on layouts for my class this evening, and I have finished assembling all the paper bag albums for the Streams to Rivers project next Tuesday.  I still need to finish cutting the papers for the "kits" I am making for the kids, but I am more than half way finished, so just a little more cutting and that project will be ready to go.

I noticed that the kitties were on my bed, so since I had the camera out, I decided to sneak up on them and snap a few photos.  Honestly, do they sleep all day?

 Now Julius is up and about but Smokey is still being lazy.

Julius apparently wanted a close up.

Flash is being lazy too it seems.

And wouldn't you know it, here is Dallas fast asleep.  Am I the only one that works around here?

Now they have decided to wake up and Flash doesn't look very happy about it.

Enjoy your Wednesday everyone!

~Shari

Ghosties High Tea

WOYWW #74


Before I get to my desk this week, I would like to share some "quirky" traditions that my family celebrates this time of year.  First off you must understand that my family on my mother's side, the Fitzgerald's, are Irish through and through, so I grew up observing  family customs that have been passed down through the generations.  My husband's family, the Maclaskey's, are Scottish, so we have combined our unique family traditions to celebrate with our child so that he too may pass them along to his children. 
It is customary for me to make a special meal to celebrate All Hallows Eve and this includes colcannon.  Though it is something I make quite regularly throughout the year, I do make sure it is included with our Halloween meal since it has always been that way in my family.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with colcannon, it is basically equal amounts of boiled cabbage and boiled potatoes mashed together with some cream and served with a "puddle" of butter in the center.  At times I will alter the basic recipe somewhat and make what my grandmother called "mash-of-nines" which adds carrots, turnips and a leek to the potato/cabbage mix. 
After our dinner, around 8:00,  we enjoyed "Ghoulies and Ghosties High Tea".  (High tea generally refers to tea that is taken after dinner as opposed to in the afternoon.)

Edit:  Mandi pointed out below that she thought High Tea was served with savories and cakes and afternoon tea is served with cakes and she is absolutely right.  High Tea is traditionally served with savories such as sausages, fish, etc. and in my case, colcannon,  and sandwiches and a simple dessert.  The term "High Tea" was used for tea served at dinner time and sometimes IS dinner because it was served at the high dining table rather than a low coffee table or parlor table but High Tea can be taken at any time of the day and as early as noon.  Afternoon tea is the more formal of the two and the most elegant.  It is usually served with a light meal with the best linens and silver.  So you aren't wrong at all Mandi!  :)

This year we had a sweet chocolate mint tea to coincide with the sweet treats given on Halloween.   I also made an apple pastry to symbolize the completed harvest and as a substitute for the custom of dookin for apples because we really didn't want to plunge our face into a cold tub of water this year.  (Sorry granddad.)
Halloween in our family is much more than trick or treating, it is about remembering our loved ones who have gone before us and paying tribute to our ancestors who have passed down our "quirky" customs.
And at last, I will leave you all with a look at my workdesk.  Honestly it really isn't much to speak of this week.  I am working on the Fall layout I will be teaching this evening in class.  Technically I had them finished last week, but I managed to put the left page into an ink pad and it was ruined.   I used my heat gun to heat the adhesive and salvage as many elements as I could.  Fortunately I had only to remake my base page and then re-attach the additional pieces.
I highly encourage you to visit Julia's Stamping Ground, the mastermind behind WOYWW, to have a candid peek into the workspaces of many creative souls.
Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Trick or Treats?

WOYWW #73
H2H Challenge - Halloween Theme


I may be cheating a bit by combining two posts into one, but I have been overloaded with things needing to be done around here.  As you may notice, I have already cleaned up my desk and checked it off my "to do" list.  Another project completed are the goody bags I made for my nieces and nephews, 8 total (one has been mailed out).  I used primarily CTMH paper from Hooligans to make the bags, but I was running short since I have also made cards and 4 layouts from one Hooligans paper pack, so two of the bags are made using paper from My Mind's Eye.  The images are all digi-stamps which I colored using copics and the pocket was made with an unknown spider's web stamp which I stamped onto vellum with Versamark ink, then embossed with black embossing power.  I cut out the web and attached it to the bag to make the little pocket to hold the name cards.  The bag is made from a Sizzix die using my Cuttlebug.  Hope you all have a wonderful week! 

Supplies:

Paper:  Hooligans Level 2 Paper Pack and The Spider's Web from My Mind's Eye, Vellum, Neenah white cardstock

Inks:  Versamark and Copic markers

Stamps:  Digi-stamps "Charcoal" from Pollycraft and "Devil Billy" and "Wilma the Witch" from Digital Delights, unknown clear spider's web stamp

Misc:  CTMH black embossing powder and CTMH black brads

Tools:  Cuttlebug and Sizzix gift bag die

Moved Again

WOYWW #72


First off, I would like the thank all of you who visited me last week and left such wonderful comments!  You are all the most wonderful ladies I have ever met who I have technically never met. ;)  I must also apologize for not returning the favor, but unfortunately I had become ill with a flu bug and did nothing but sleep for a couple of days. 


For those of you who enjoy nosing about crafty and creative work spaces, visit Julia's blog, Stamping Ground, to take a peek, it's a lot of fun I promise.


Now onto my workdesk, which has moved once more, this time to my kitchen counter.  The simple truth is I just didn't have enough clear space on my real workdesk to work on this project.  The project is a prototype for an event that I have volunteered to help with at the library.  My local library is awesome!  They allow me use of their meeting room each week (for free), for my scrapbooking classes which is such a benefit for me.  I am not sure I could supply enough space in my home for scrapbookers as it is, at times, a job in which you need to spread out.  The library also sponsors a program called Streams to Rivers which pairs the local Senior Citizens with the 3rd and 4th graders at the school to do scheduled activities together.  Isn't this a great idea?  Anyway, I will be instructing them on how to make paper bag albums for their get together in mid-November to use with the pictures each student will be taking of their families over the next several weeks.  The Seniors will help them to assemble their albums while each generation is interacting with one other. 


Happy Wednesday!

A Different Angle

WOYWW #71


Today I am taking you outside the confines of my little craft corner to share another "craft" that I enjoy, though it did not start out that way. 
Long story short, my son and I suffer from extremely sensitive skin and for years have lived with the side effects of using purchased soaps.  As a young child I was often asked if I had ants in my pants because I was such a squirmy thing due to my skin itching so much.  Several years ago I had read somewhere that all natural soaps, such as soap made from lye, are less irritating to the skin because they do not contain "detergents" as most store bought products do. 
So began my adventure in soapmaking and now it is a chore that I rather enjoy.  For many years I have left my soap uncolored, but with this last batch I gave coloring a go.  It didn't work out so well, thus the little chunks of blue soap on my table.  Once they are cured, I will shred them up and try it again by means of "rebatching". 
Soapmaking led me to also make my own lotions as well, and here on my table is the batch I made this morning.  It costs me 64 cents per bottle of lotion to make it myself, which is right up my alley, frugal as I am.  This particular batch however,  was made using emulsifying wax rather than my usual bee's wax, so technically it isn't 100% natural. 
Hope you enjoy the new angle of my workdesk, which can migrate to any part of my home.  Please drop by Julia's blog, Stamping Ground, to look at all the wonderful creative spaces that wonderful creators share.

WOYWW?

Today on my workdesk I have a little sneeky peeky at what I will be teaching for my scrapbooking class.  We are going to do a fun halloween layout with cute little monsters that sparkle head to toe.  Just ignore all the background mess, I may eventually clean it up.   ; )  Thanks for stopping by and to snoop at others' workdesks, visit Julia at Stamping Ground to get started.  Enjoy!